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Neurophysiology · London

Private nerve conduction studies in London, by a consultant neurophysiologist.

A neurophysiologist-led electrical study of nerve function - combined with EMG at the same visit and reported before you leave.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What private nerve conduction studies cost in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£300-£550; combined NCS + EMG £600-£1,100.

Study type Indicative range
Single-limb NCS £300–£550
Upper-limb NCS (both arms) £400–£750
Lower-limb NCS (both legs) £450–£800
NCS + EMG combined £600–£1,100
Full four-limb NCS £700–£1,300
Follow-up NCS £220–£450

Prices vary by clinic, whether one or several limbs are studied, and whether EMG is added.

The problem

The right nerves, in the right order, read on the day.

A study of the wrong nerves - or a technician-only report - can send you down the wrong path for months. Matching the protocol to your symptom, and reading it on the day, is the entire job.

  • Tingling in one hand?

    A focused upper-limb NCS localises median or ulnar involvement precisely.

  • Numb feet on both sides?

    A lower-limb or four-limb study separates length-dependent neuropathy from a focal cause.

  • Want a consultant, not a report by post?

    Look for clinics where a consultant neurophysiologist performs and interprets the study in one visit.

What it shows

Find the study that matches your symptom.

Peripheral nerve symptoms differ enormously in pattern. These are the questions it most often answers.

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome

    The classic indication - measures median nerve slowing at the wrist against the forearm.

  • Ulnar neuropathy at the elbow

    Localises ulnar nerve compression at the cubital tunnel with above- and below-elbow segments.

  • Peroneal nerve palsy

    Foot drop work-up - locates conduction block at the fibular head.

  • Peripheral polyneuropathy

    Length-dependent numbness or burning - separates demyelinating from axonal patterns.

  • Diabetic neuropathy

    Objective assessment of sensory and motor nerves in longstanding diabetes.

  • Radiculopathy (support)

    Supports imaging when a nerve root is suspected - EMG usually adds the most here.

  • Guillain-Barré work-up

    Urgent study to detect acute demyelination when weakness is progressive.

  • Red flag: rapidly ascending weakness

    Rapidly ascending weakness or breathlessness needs urgent hospital assessment, not an outpatient study.

Study types

Not all nerve studies are the same.

What each option on your referral is actually for.

  • Single-limb NCS

    One arm or one leg - focused study when symptoms are localised.

  • Upper-limb NCS

    Both arms studied - typical for suspected carpal tunnel or ulnar neuropathy.

  • Lower-limb NCS

    Both legs studied - for foot drop, sciatic-pattern symptoms or lower-limb neuropathy.

  • NCS + EMG combined

    Nerve conduction plus needle EMG in the same visit - the fullest peripheral nerve assessment.

  • Full four-limb NCS

    All four limbs - for generalised polyneuropathy or unclear multi-site symptoms.

  • Diabetic neuropathy panel

    Standardised sensory and motor protocol for longstanding diabetes.

  • Post-injury NCS

    After trauma or surgery - assesses recovery of a specific nerve over time.

  • ITU / weakness NCS

    Bedside study for critical-illness weakness or ventilated patients where transport is difficult.

Safety and eligibility

One of the safer nerve tests in medicine.

Nerve conduction studies are very safe. The practical points are skin preparation, warmth, declaring implants - and understanding how the numbers are read.

  • What it feels like

    Small electrical pulses feel like a firm tap or a flick - uncomfortable in bursts, not painful.

  • No needles for NCS alone

    Nerve conduction uses surface electrodes only. Needles are for EMG, when that is added.

  • Warm skin, cleaner results

    Warm skin gives faster, cleaner conduction values - your limb may be warmed before the study starts.

  • Pacemakers and implants

    Declare any pacemaker or implanted stimulator before booking - protocol is adjusted accordingly.

  • Skin preparation

    Avoid heavy moisturiser or oil on the limbs being studied - it interferes with the electrode contact.

  • Reading the numbers in context

    Results are always interpreted alongside your clinical picture, not in isolation.

  • A mildly slow nerve

    A single mildly slow value is not always pathological - the pattern matters more than any one number.

  • Repeat studies

    Some conditions evolve - a repeat study weeks or months later can be more informative than the first.

  • EMG at the same visit

    Needle EMG is usually done at the same visit when the referral or findings warrant it.

Reading your report

A nerve report can look technical. It isn’t.

Every study, from a single limb to all four, keeps to the same four parts.

A UK consultant neurophysiologist reviewing a nerve conduction trace

A quiet reminder

A mildly slow nerve is not always pathological - the pattern matters more than any one number.

If you would like it explained before your follow-up, ask your GP or specialist.

  1. 01 Header

    Your details and the presentation

    Your details, the referring question and the symptoms behind it.

  2. 02 Technique

    Which nerves were studied

    The specific motor and sensory nerves examined, and any comparison sides.

  3. 03 Findings

    Latency, amplitude, conduction velocity

    The measured values for each nerve segment, with the reference ranges.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    Normal, focal, generalised, demyelinating versus axonal - and what to do next.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about nerve conduction studies.

Quick answers on cost, referrals, comfort, pacemakers and results.

  • What does a nerve conduction study measure?

    It measures how fast and how strongly an electrical signal travels along your peripheral nerves - the latency, amplitude and conduction velocity - to see whether nerves are working normally, slowed, blocked or damaged.

  • Is it painful?

    Not really. The small electrical pulses feel like a firm tap or a flick, and each stimulation lasts a fraction of a second. Most people find it easily tolerable, if a little odd in the moment.

  • What is the difference between NCS and EMG?

    NCS studies the nerves themselves, using surface electrodes and small electrical pulses. EMG studies the muscle, using a fine needle to record electrical activity. They answer different questions and are often done together at the same visit.

  • How much does a private nerve conduction study cost in London?

    A single-limb NCS is typically £300-£550, and both-arm or both-leg studies £400-£800. A combined NCS + EMG is £600-£1,100.

  • Do I need a referral?

    Many clinics accept self-referral, but a referring letter from a GP, neurologist or hand surgeon helps match the right protocol to your question.

  • I have a pacemaker - can I still have this test?

    The neurophysiologist adjusts protocol - typically avoiding stimulation close to the device - to keep it safe.

  • Do I need to prep my skin?

    Avoid heavy moisturiser, oil or fake tan on the limbs being studied on the day. Warm skin gives cleaner results, so wearing something warm on the way in helps.

  • How quickly will I get the results?

    A same-visit consultant neurophysiologist report is typical - you often leave with the conclusion. A formal written report follows within a working day.

  • The report says one nerve is mildly slow - is that serious?

    Not necessarily. A single mildly slow value in isolation is common and not always pathological. What matters is the pattern across nerves, the symmetry, and how it fits your symptoms - which is exactly what the impression at the top of the report addresses.

  • When should I see a GP urgently instead?

    If you have rapidly ascending weakness, new breathlessness with weakness, or you cannot walk, that needs urgent hospital assessment - not an outpatient study. Go to A&E or call 999.

Related tests

Looking for a different test?

In practice, in London

Booking nerve conduction privately in London - what actually happens

With nerve conduction, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Waiting lists on the NHS for nerve conduction vary widely by borough and by how the GP letter reads. Privately in London, a slot inside the same week is often possible, sometimes within 48 hours if there is a cancellation. The difference isn’t clinical quality - the consultants are frequently the same faces you’d see on the NHS - it’s the calendar.

Once you’re in the private system for nerve conduction, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. It’s the coordination that tends to feel different - one person on the other end of the phone, not a switchboard. For nerve conduction specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

There are a lot of consultants in London who can technically handle nerve conduction. Fewer who do it week in, week out for the exact question you’re bringing. Asking how often a consultant performs the test, and whether a different test or specialist would suit you better, is worth doing. UK consultants work to GMC and Royal College standards and private clinics are CQC-regulated; the choice is about fit, not floor.